Czech Republic: Death threats to civil society groups aiding refugees

24.10.2015 8:32

After the Kašpárek Community Center in the Czech town of Pardubice held a collection for refugees, this sticker turned up on their display window featuring a noose and reading "DEATH TO TRAITORS". The sticker features the logos of those organizations whom the sticker-makers believe should be killed. The logo of the ROMEA organization is one of them. (PHOTO: iDNES.cz)

News server iDNES.cz reports that stickers featuring a noose and "DEATH TO TRAITORS" were placed on the display window and door of the Kašpárek Community Center in the Czech town of Pardubice at the beginning of this month. The vandalism occurred several days after the center organized a food drive and other aid for refugees.

Police said they were investigating the matter as a misdemeanor offense against coexistence. Olga Pavlů, the director of the center, said that their Facebook profile was attacked prior to the physical vandalism of the premises.

She believes the extremist association "Pro-Vlast" (For the Fatherland) is behind the attacks. That group has rejected the allegations on its Facebook profile.

Previously Pro-Vlast espoused a campaign against receiving refugees in the town of Bystřice pod Hostýnem. They also celebrated whoever poured pig's blood over a kebab stand in the town of Hradec Králové.

Their website calls for combating immigration and multiculturalism and claims that Europeans are losing their culture, their future, and their identity. The group claims to be one of patriots defending the "Czech way of life" and of young citizens "who are absolutely disgusted by the political and social developments of recent years" in the Czech Republic.

The following video footage features an interview with Pavlů (Czech only).